One season later and center is still Golden State's weakest position. Adonal Foyle continued to tank Golden State's 5-spot all through out the season with inconsistent defense, horrendous offense, and an attitude that didn't care about the team until his starting job was taken away in mid-December (and faded away just as quick when he was brought back into the lineup). His most frequent backup (Andris Biedrins) did better... but not enough to make the Warriors think about drafting any other position in 2006. The arrival of Don Nelson makes a Troy-Murphy-slide up to center more possible than ever... but the jury is still out on whether or not that's a good thing (due to Murphy's inability to block shots). If Don Nelson can turn Troy Murphy into a semi-threat under the basket on defense by using his height to reject a couple inside shots, than Golden State will be at their best in the middle since Terry Cummings was on the roster. Another thing to keep an eye on is Golden State's #9 pick in the draft, Patrick O'Bryant, who is said to have one of the Top 3 upsides in the entire class. If O'Bryant's reputation for improvement is as good as scouts claim, Golden State may have found a sizeable option at the 5... the likes of which they haven't had in over 6 years. Expect Chris Taft, Ike Diogu, Zarko Chaparkaba and possibly even Mike Dunleavy to see minutes at the center position next year in Nelly's new offense. Golden State's second-round pick (Kosta Perovic) isn't believed to play this season. Overall, the talent has improved (with the addition of O'Bryant), but some of Biedrins potential from his rookie year has fizzed... and Foyle looks as bad as ever. Don Nelson's small-ball lineup should hide most of the warts at center... at least, that's what Golden State is hoping.

Rating: 3.5

Forwards

Golden State is as stacked at the power forward position as any other team in basketball (yes, even Detroit). Troy Murphy has averaged a double-double for 3 of his 5 seasons in the NBA. He is one of basketball's best offensive rebounders, a threat to knock down jumpers from beyond the perimeter, and one of Golden State's few solid free-throw shooters. Trade rumors always seem to be swirling above his head, so focus has proven to be a very real issue with Murphy (as he showed last season during the Ron Artest debacle). But, unless he's had a terrible outing, the Warriors can usually expect Murphy to end the game with around 15 points and 10 rebounds. That's the kind of production most teams look for in their 4-spots.

The backup for Murphy last season (who may very well start this year) was Ike Diogu, who turned out to be everything Golden State hoped he would be. Chris Mullin drafted him with the hopes that he would inject the lineup with some inside defense and hard-nosed rebounding prowess. What he got was a kid that took Rasheed Wallace to school for 27 points (on 13 for 15 from the field) during a mid-December game against Detroit. Flashes of potential like these were dismissed by former coach, Mike Montgomery, who claimed, "if Ike could do that every game, we'd go to that. That sucker's hands would have blisters on them he'd get the ball so much." Those notions were blown apart by the season's end, when (in the final 7 games of the year) Diogu put up an average of 16.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game (in 26.1 minutes a night). When he’s given time, Diogu has proven he can produce.

The enigma of Mike Dunleavy returns to the Bay with a fat, new contract. With career averages of 10.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.4 APG, the Warriors must hope that Dunleavy finds a way to contribute more in these next 5 years (as his contract will make him awfully hard to trade as is). He has leadership, passion, and intelligence… but also seems to buckle under pressure. He is another case that Golden State hopes Don Nelson can solve. Mickael Pietrus, coming off what can only be described as a disappointing year, will probably spell Dunleavy most often during the year. Though naturally a shooting guard, Pietrus has found more minutes at the SF position (away from the road-block of Jason Richardson). Zarko Chaparkaba and Chris Taft are also potential players that the Warriors would like to see more of before they decide whether or not these guys are long-term material.

Nelson’s style makes chaining these guys down onto a certain position impossible, but (for the most part) Golden State shouldn’t have to worry too much about their forwards. The slack that their SF’s leave behind will most likely be picked up by the Murphy-Diogu tandem at PF.

Rating: 7.5

Guards

Jason Richardson is the hometown hero in Oakland… but how far the Warriors make it starts, goes, and ends with Baron Davis and his sewn together knee. Davis had (statistically) one of his best seasons as a point guard in his first full year with Golden State. Although percentages have never been his thing, he managed to put up nightly averages of 17.9 points and a career-high 8.9 assists (while nabbing nearly 2 steals a game). Unfortunately, he also had his usual number of missed games (28, to be exact). And when you’re a team like Golden State (who never knows what they’re going to get from Dunleavy and can’t count on the center position offensively), you desperately miss that 18 and 9 that Baron Davis gives you (regardless of how many three’s he jacks up while doing it). The bottom line is that Baron Davis is the franchise in Golden State (even though Richardson is the Mr. Popularity). If his knee (and patience) holds together for 65 plus games, expect the Warriors to end their 12-year thirst for the playoffs.

While Davis is certainly driving Golden State towards the post-season, nobody can argue that Golden State’s engine is Jason Richardson. In his 5th year as a Warrior, Richardson’s averages continued to ascend, as he reached an average of 23.2 PPG (with three 40+ point games)… and, sitting next to a fellow 20-points-a-night man like Baron Davis, that’s not too shabby. Richardson’s other contribution to Golden State is his un-guard-like rebounding skills, where he pulls down an incredible 5.8 boards a night (and reached double-digits in the rebounding column 5 times last year)! Richardson’s contributions don’t stop there; aside from scoring, he also reached career highs in 3-point percentage (38.4%), FG% (tying his 44.6% best season), and blocks (again, tying his best 0.5 BPG record). Something Golden State needs to keep their eye on, however, is Richardson’s health: in his first 5 seasons, his games per year have generally been on a downward slope (80, 82, 78, 72, and 75… in that order). Richardson has been lucky enough not to suffer any huge injuries during his career so far and has been able to stay, generally, very healthy… but, with his high-flying style and give-it-your-all attitude, Richardson is primed for a set-back in 2007. And nothing would put a halt to Golden State’s playoff hopes faster than their leading scorer (and heartiest player) to go down with a season-ending injury in February or March.

Monta Ellis will be Golden State’s first player off the bench; a combo guard with the potential of a leaky gas tanker at a firework show. Expect spotty games from Ellis next season where he scores in bunches, rebounds well, and distributes. When Ellis is on, he can usually provide 3-catergory brilliance. But coming out of high school means he’ll probably need another season of NBA maturing before he’s able to fully take over a game. Mickael Pietrus will also see minutes at his natural SG position when Jason Richardson and Monta Ellis are grabbing some pine. Don’t expect much from Keith McCloud or Andre Owens (two of the three Utah Jazz guards that the Warriors acquired for Derek Fisher), but Devin Brown is a hustle player that comes to play night in and night out... which both Don Nelson and Chris Mullin respect. Brown will see garbage minutes to prove himself and be assessed from there by the team. Overall, the Warriors have one of the best starting backcourts in all of basketball… and one heck of a youngster combo-guard on the bench. Their strongest position may have lost a crafty veteran in Fisher (who gave the Warriors many wins in the 4th quarter the past two seasons), but Golden State shouldn’t be any worse for the wear as Ellis settles into a new role with more minutes.

The analysis is pretty good, as always, but I'm, respectfully, going to disagree regarding the poll. We haven't improved at any position of the roster. We have the same team we had last year, and that improvement will be noticed during the season, not now. Right now we only have question marks and a few sure things, but they are the same we had last season.

The position in which we have improved the most is not in the poll. It's, hands down, the head coach.

TMC wrote:The analysis is pretty good, as always, but I'm, respectfully, going to disagree regarding the poll. We haven't improved at any position of the roster. We have the same team we had last year, and that improvement will be noticed during the season, not now. Right now we only have question marks and a few sure things, but they are the same we had last season.

The position in which we have improved the most is not in the poll. It's, hands down, the head coach.

Oh, I completely agree. Head coach is by far the most improved area of the team.

But in terms of the lineup, I beg to differ. The departure of Fisher will allow more Monta Ellis to shine through... and that's an improvement. Nelson's arrival also means that Diogu will probably split minutes with Murphy now (as oppossed to last season, when Troy got 40 a night and Ike got 8). Hell, even the center position is upped due to the coming decrease of minutes for Adonal Foyle.

Hell, I'd say the only position that won't bennefit from the draft, Fisher-trade, or Nelly's arrival will be the point guard spot. Sure, Baron Davis is likely to improve... but Fisher was a big, big part of this team (and could run the offense a hell of a lot better than Monta could).

Aside from that... even though the roster looks pretty similar on paper, the team's talent will be more involved this season (and that will mean huge leaps for the Warriors).

What I'm saying is that we still have to see those improvements. We expect them, but we're not completely sure. What happens if Nellie decides he doesn't like Ike? (which I don't think will happen. It's just an example), or what happens if Taft misses most of the season again?. How can that be an improvement?. I don't consider and improvement anything that has yet to happen.

The only thing we have improved for sure is the bench. It's too early to point other areas in which we have clearly improved.

Buuuuut, if you force me to pick an improved position from last year, it would be PF. Just because we're going to let Ike play.

Well... that sounds a bit cynical to me. I understand the hesitantcy (being a Warriors' fan makes us a bit hard at trusting good things when they seem to be coming). But I think there's little doubt that Ike, Monta, and Biedrins will all see an increase in minutes next year. That, alone, is good enough be warranted as "improvement" to me.

TMC wrote:The analysis is pretty good, as always, but I'm, respectfully, going to disagree regarding the poll. We haven't improved at any position of the roster. We have the same team we had last year, and that improvement will be noticed during the season, not now. Right now we only have question marks and a few sure things, but they are the same we had last season.

The position in which we have improved the most is not in the poll. It's, hands down, the head coach.

I'll agree with that because no one has performed yet. Foyle hasn't showed us any signs of improvement besides his offseason doings. Biedrins is still developing and we don't exactly know how he'll perform with Nelson's style. POB is out for a month and a half to say the least. Murphy, Ike, Caparkapa, and Taft were the same players there from last year. Dunleavy has so much to prove and improve. Jrich just came back from a cleanup surgery, not serious, but hey, you never know. Though he's always came out and improved his game, so no worries. Pietrus has this year to put the past behind him or else it's game over. Monta gets more minutes but how will he do with the time given? Baron has to stay healthy, no questions asked. As for the other scrubs, they're just there to clean up and finish out blowouts done by the Warriors or get done by others.

Last edited by xbay on Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.

#32 wrote:Something Golden State needs to keep their eye on, however, is Richardson’s health: in his first 5 seasons, his games per year have generally been on a downward slope (80, 82, 78, 72, and 75… in that order). Richardson has been lucky enough not to suffer any huge injuries during his career so far and has been able to stay, generally, very healthy… but, with his high-flying style and give-it-your-all attitude, Richardson is primed for a set-back in 2007. And nothing would put a halt to Golden State’s playoff hopes faster than their leading scorer (and heartiest player) to go down with a season-ending injury in February or March.

It's a worrying thought that all depends on this surgery. It was no secret that he was having issues, and this surgery was supposed to help that and let's pray it did and his health problem will go away.

His health hasn't been a major issue. Ankle sprains are all he's had correct? Correct me if i'm wrong though. I might've forgotten the knees or something, not sure. But if it's only one part of the body, it shouldn't be much of an issue. Though, they should worry about it still because he will be one of the most significant pieces to this seasons run.